Over a year ago a friend of mine suggested the kids and I visit Pirrama Park Playground. It’s now almost 2 years at time of publication. I’m sorry I’m so slow! I can’t believe it took us so long to get to it! It was a great suggestion, what a surprising little playground.
Pirrama Park Playground has to be one of the nicest inner, inner City playgrounds. It’s located in Pyrmont fits into its surroundings perfectly. It combines natural elements with the slightly industrial.
I was surprised by how much we enjoyed this playground compared to what my expectations were. None of the photos I’ve found online accurately portrayed the playground so I’m hoping this review does it some justice. I do however have two major concerns which I have raised below.
It’s not the type of playground you drive into the City to visit but rather the type of playground you visit in conjunction with something else.
We were out in the City visiting Sydney Sea Life and the kids had some extra energy to burn. I couldn’t put them in the car and drive back to the Northern Beaches with that much unused energy.
Pirrama Park Playground
If you’re in the City, Pyrmont side, then this is definitely the playground you want to visit! It’s not a huge playground like Sydney Park playground or some of the playgrounds in the suburbs but it does make good use of its size and has some good features.
We’re actually off to the City tonight, if we were going any earlier in the day, I would definitely pop past Pirrama Park playground.
Pirrama Park Playground Features
Pirrama Park Playground is situated right on the water in Pyrmont. Within the greater park area is the playground, some grass and wide open paths bordering the water.
There is some lovely play equipment too, beautifully structured to fit the park’s surrounds.
The playground elements combine with natural elements like the sandstone rocks and the plants and vines that are waiting to grow up and cover the existing structures. In a few years, this playground will be even more beautiful. I nearly forgot, the playground overlooks the harbour too.
The playground overlooks the harbour too.
Enough about the surrounds, let’s get on to what is in the playground. None of the pictures that I found online really explained what was in the playground. I was quite surprised. I’ll share with you what my kids loved. Bear in mind my kids were 5 and 7 when we visited.
Climbing Net
Most online descriptions reference the sandpit as the highlight but for my kids it was the climbing net structure. A climbing net structure to beat nearly all others.
It’s a big net but not massive.
It’s what it’s got on it that makes it a winner. Inside it has nets seating areas and a slide down the one side. Both my kids loved it and spent nearly an hour just in that section. What is nice is that it has areas that were challenging enough and easier enough for both of them.
With one very adventurous child and one more fearful, its often hard to find an area in a playground they both love but this worked for them!!
Water Play
Another draw card has to be the water play. Situated between the playground and the little kiosk. It’s hard to miss and seems to be a magnetic drawcard for kids. Whilst it is not complex with jets just shooting up water, its enough to keep kids soggy and happy.
I spent a lot of time trying to keep my kids away from it as I was not prepared for it and had brought no spare clothes.
Sandpit
As I said, all the reviews I’ve read about Pirrama Park Playground talk about the sandpit. It’s okay but it’s not amazing for older kids. Granted, I am always sceptical about sandpits and sand lice that come with sandpits.
The area is set off from the main playground equipment and so safe for little ones. The toddlers that were there when we were visiting we’re all clambering to get into the sandpit.
Scooter Path
Between the playground and the harbour’s edge there are big wide open pathways. The kids could easily have scooted around had I thought to bring their scooters. The playground area is largely paved in sections meaning kids could have scooted through it too.
My kids were acutely aware of other kids cycling and scooting around and were most annoyed that I had not catered for this. Again, I just did not know.
My two primary Concerns
Proximity to the Water
The biggest concern I have with this playground is it’s proximity to the water without any fences or natural features to impeded access.
While there are little walls around parts of the playground and a metal fence to stop access to the road there is not much to prevent determined kids from running to the water.
If you have a little one, especially an escape artist, you HAVE TO keep a close eye on them.
Sharp edges and hard surfaces
If I had been visiting with a curious toddler who was unstable on their feet I would have been a hovering mess. One of my kids is a bit clumsy so I am quite aware of otherwise unseen hazards.
There aren’t many soft surfaces, there is a lot of cement and hard rock surfaces. There is also a lot of stone blocks and even the little slide is perched on rock. While this means everything fits into the surrounds, it does mean there are more areas to cause cuts and bumps and bruises.
Pirrama Park Playground Facilities
One of the nice aspects of the playground is that you can grab a coffee or a snack from the little kiosk next to it and have a picnic on the grass. Or take walk all the way along the water through Pyrmont to Darling Harbour.
Cafe / Kiosk
There is a little kiosk on site. I gather it serves some food during the day but there was not a lot on offer at the time of day we visited. There are hot drinks and cold drinks, snacks and some rolls and burgers on sale. We packed a picnic but then got drinks from the kiosk.
BBQs, Picnic Tables and Seating
There is a BBQ near to the playground and.
Pack a picnic and spend some time at the playground in the great outdoors. There are picnic tables up at the top and the bottom. One of the ones at the top is covered and makes a perfect venue for a birthday party.
There is also “seating” on the little walls constructed around the playground spaces. You can definitely sit there and watch the kids as they play! Maybe not in Covid times though.
Bathrooms
There are bathrooms within 100m of the playground, behind the little kiosk. For public toilets they’re not utterly disgusting as of 2020. My daughter who is quite fussy was okay about going to the loo.
Shade
There are a few yellow umbrellas scattered across the playground but they don’t cover the entire area. Some of the picnic tables are covered and one of the passageways has a roof of sorts.
I think that the goal is for the trees and foliage to grow up and provide additional cover but it’s not there yet.
Outside of the playground, on the grass nearby there are trees that provide shade if you’re wanting to picnic.
Where is Pirrama Park Playground
Where is Pirrama Park?
Pirrama Park is located at the very end of Harris Street in the North end of Pyrmont, overlooking the water. I did not realise how far it extends, it‘s actually pretty big. The park is 1.8 hectares in total from Hollys Wharf on the one side all the way to opposite Jones Wharf on the other side.
It’s not like a park in that it is all leafy and green, it’s more a “public space” than a park. The description on most maps is “harbourside greenspace with a playground.”
Where is Pirrama Park Playground?
The playground is hiding in a bottom corner of the Park.
I would say that the best address to put in your GPS is either the name of the playground or the Harris + Pirrama intersection. That will take you to the intersection behind the bathroom, the playground is hiding behind it. If you turn into Pirrama from Harris you will find parking directly in front of the playground.
Parking
There is a bit of parking around the playground. It is paid parking.
Just be careful when you’re parking. It’s reverse in parking – rear to kerb and there are traffic wardens walking the area. Lots of traffic wardens.
Age Suitability
For those of you who follow the blog, you will notice that this is a new category and purely because my son has started complaining about certain places we visit not being challenging enough for him. It’s an interesting age this!!
So from now on, I will be indicating which age groups would get the best out of each playground.
Age Suitability of this playground
I would say that this playground is best for children up to the age of 2 to 6. While my son was slightly older, we had food on hand and already been on another adventure.
I would be wary visiting with toddlers that learning to walk as the surfaces are quite hard and also toddlers or pre-schoolers who love running away as it is close to the water.
Disclaimer: Not all children have the same abilities. Not all children who look to have the same physical abilities do. The above age suitability is purely a guideline and should be considered in light of your own child’s ability.
If you’ve visited this playground and have anything to add, please feel free to leave a comment below or on your preferred social media. I love it when we share ideas and thoughts. Please just don’t private message me on Facebook because I am not often on that particular platform.
